Toronto Tempo hold off late Liberty rally, beat New York 93-91 at Bell Centre
Toronto Tempo stave off New York Liberty 93-91 at Montreal’s Bell Centre; Marina Mabrey scores 30 as Nyara Sabally’s late layup secures the win. (155 characters)
The Toronto Tempo ended a four-game skid with a 93-91 victory over the New York Liberty on Sunday at the Bell Centre, paced by Marina Mabrey’s game-high 30 points.
Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 28 points in a comeback that fell short after Nyara Sabally’s decisive layup in the closing seconds.
The win provided the Tempo a much-needed lift and exposed lingering issues for both teams as the WNBA season moves forward.
Mabrey’s scoring night shapes the outcome
Marina Mabrey finished with 30 points and emerged as the clear offensive driver for the Tempo throughout the contest.
After a slow start, Mabrey found her rhythm in the third quarter, scoring 12 points on six shots and helping Toronto stretch a lead that reached 20 points.
Her scoring display balanced efficient shot selection and timely production, forcing New York to change coverages late in the game.
Controversial call and late rally shift momentum
A pivotal moment came late in the first quarter when an Isabelle Harrison jumper was ruled out as the shot clock expired, a decision that swung momentum toward the Liberty.
New York capitalized immediately, scoring twice in the final six seconds of the period to narrow the gap and inject energy into their comeback bid.
That controversial sequence helped set the tone for a second half that featured tense exchanges and multiple lead changes.
Third-quarter surge puts Tempo in control
Toronto reclaimed control in the second quarter and translated that into a decisive third-quarter surge that put distance between the teams.
With starters back on the court late in the first half, the Tempo engineered a 15-4 run that carried into a dominant third quarter driven by Mabrey’s scoring and tighter defensive stands.
The result was a sustained margin that forced New York to rely on urgency and quick scoring in the fourth quarter.
Liberty fight back but fall short in transition defense
The Liberty’s resilience showed in the fourth quarter, when they cut a sizeable deficit to a tie at 91 with under a minute remaining.
Sabrina Ionescu’s 28 points spearheaded the rally, but New York struggled to stop Toronto in transition, a weakness that was costly throughout the game.
The Liberty were outscored on fastbreak points by a 24-2 margin, a differential that underscored their struggles to match the Tempo’s pace and opportunistic offense.
Rebounding and glass control remain a concern for Toronto
Toronto entered the game with a troubling 2-13 record when outrebounded, a trend that nearly cost them again on Sunday.
Although the Tempo managed to secure the win, the team’s vulnerability on the boards surfaced in several sequences where second-chance opportunities favored New York.
Coaching staff emphasized the need to clean the glass consistently, noting that rebounding lapses have been a season-long drag on the team’s overall performance.
Three-point efficiency and bench contributions
Shooting from deep played a significant role in the Tempo’s victory, with the team connecting on 37.5 percent of their three-point attempts.
That perimeter accuracy nearly doubled the Liberty’s rate from beyond the arc and helped Toronto sustain leads when drives were contested inside.
Bench play, including Sabally’s timely finishing, provided crucial minutes and helped preserve the starters while maintaining offensive thrust late in the game.
Immediate consequences and schedule notes
The Toronto Tempo will return to Toronto and prepare to host the Washington Mystics on Jul. 14, looking to build on this momentum at home.
The New York Liberty continue their road swing with a matchup against the Dallas Wings on Jul. 16, aiming to correct transition defense and rebounding before returning to conference play.
Both clubs will face quick turnaround adjustments, with coach comments expected to focus on matchup planning and execution in the coming days.
The game underscored the Tempo’s ability to rally under pressure and the Liberty’s capacity to fight back from deficits, but it also highlighted areas in need of attention for both teams as the regular season progresses.
